Adjustable width strap end



Sept. 29, 1953 E. RODRIGUEZ ADJUSABLE WIDTH STRAP END 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May 4, 1950 INVENTOR. EM/L zopz/guEz ATTORNEYS E. RODRIGUEZADJUSABLE WIDTH STRAP END Sept. 29, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 4,1950 o/ TE Fla IN VEN TOR. EM/l. 2002/6 UEZ A rra/e/vsys i atented Sept.29, 1953 ADJ US.TABLE..WIDTH. STRAP Emil Rodriguez, New York,-

Y., assignor to Jacoby Bendev; Inc, New. York; N.1 Y., a. conporatinmofi Newiurk Application May 4,1950, Ser ia1No. 159,893

The present invention relates to a strap end the, width of which is?adjustable at will so that the: strap end can be accurately fittedbetween supporting lugs spaced apartto varyingd'egrees:

This application is: acoritinuatiOn-impartof application Serial Number141687; of February- 1 1950, now abandoned, entitled Adjustable WidthEnd? The: invention as here specifically disclosed is applied to abracelet to be secured between the lugs on a watchcase, but it can of'course be adapted for use in other'applications.

Wristwatch bracelets are oftensold separate from the watch towhichthey-areto-beattached. One reason for this practice is that stylesinwatch bracelets change somewhat more rapidly than styles in watchesand watch cases, and the wearers of wrist watches will therefore;duringthe life of theWa-tch; haveoccasion tense-severaldifferent watchbracelets. Anotherreasonis-that the preference of the user for watchbracelets of different types; such as leather, plastic, metal, snakechain, ratchet buckle secured, orresilientlyexpanda-ble; may change fromseason to season or at thewhim of the person concerned.

A significant problem is presented totheman-- ufacturer of -watchbracelets sold separately from watches-by reason-ct the-fact that thewatch caselugs between which: the bracelet: ends are to be secured artnot uniformly spaced: in all watches; The bracelet manufacturer hastherefore beenforced to make bracelets in a great'wa-rietyrof widths scas to alt watch sizes or else the. jewelerfrom whom the braceletisbought-.must. perform:a delicateand time consuming-operation on the:bracelet. tamakc itfit a. particular watch... It will b apparent: thatthis latter procedure is. applicable only: when the bracelet. is; widerthan. the distance between the. lugs on. the watch case; It thebracelet. is; narrower than: that distance,. it can, of course;. be.fitted;- belrween the. lugs, but it. necessarily .be: looselst retainedtherehetween: so as to be slidable from one sifdeto'. anothen. This isvery undesirable, since it not. onlymakes for an unsightly appearancebutalso exposcsthe securing; pin. todamage. deterioration, andacci-.-dentald-islocation and is uncomfortable and: sloppy-feeling, to... thewearer... TO? the: retailer too the excessive: inventory which he must.carry instock is a source ofconsiderable dissatisfaction.

The. object. of the; present, invention is: to devise astrap. end.construction oi. adjustable, width, the strap. end having, a. minimal,width such that it canbe fittedbetween a-pair of closelyspaced lugs its,width, being extendable so as, tosnugly. fit bee-- tween more widelyspaced lugs. This is accompiished by utilizing; one or more memberstelescopable within the strap endproper, anoperative connection beingprovided between the strap: and and the telescoping member-so thattheposition of that member with respect tothe'strap end can be fixed inaccordance with the spacing of the lugs between which the strapis tobeattached. This operative connection takes the form of" a fingermoving" with-in a helical sl'ot; the member being rotatable within thestrapend-so astocause the: member, via the finger-slot connection, tocontrollably telescope into and out of the strap end as desired.

Once the width of thezstrapend has been detor-mined in accordance withthe spacing of: the lugs between which the strap is to-be-se'cured it isdesirable that the width thereafterbe fixed, at leastwhile the strap endis secured: betweenthelugs. Therefore the: inner-edge of the slot isprovidedwitha plurality of stepped recesses into which the ringer isreceivable; thus fixing the-ro tative positiorr of the member within thestrap end; and consequently the degree to which it. extends out from thesideof the-strapend; atleast until the; finger is. disengaged, from therecess.

Sincewhen. th strap. end is. snugly fitted-1 between the lugsthe vmember cannot then move outwardly; with respect to the strap end proper,itszposition; is: fixed; untill the strap end. is removed" from; betweenthe lugs, atwhich. time itewidth. ma eagain be efiectively: adjusted.

It is, of course, desired that. the strap. endhe adjustable in smallincrements. so: that. it can be accommodated to variousiwatches; in.asnug and. neat manner.

Formation in. the strap. of a suf ficient number ofi stepped.recessesto. provide-i011 the desired degree; of precision sometimespres. sentsmanufacturing problems; particularly. where relativelyfragile or easily bendable materiat is; employed; One. embodiment of: thinvention: as. here illustrated: provides. for the use of, fewer:stepped recesses; than steps or adjustment, the. additional: steps. oiiadjustment; being provided, by forming the telesccnahle members. a.plu-.. ral-ity' of: fingers: variably spaced longitudinally thereofi.any selected one of. said fingers; being: eageable inside a. iv recessso as. to; he; degree to. which said. member telescopes within said.strapend. i

More, generally stated with. reference. to the. aforementionedembodiment, it is. another. ob..- ject. of the pr s nt. invention to.provide, for a maximum number of steps of adjustability, by.

means of the simplest and sturdi'est, structure possible.

Anotherobjcct of thepresent invention isto provide, in such aconstruction, for ready access to the securing means, usually in theform of a spring pin, which detachably fastens the strap end to thelugs. This is accomplished by providing cut-away portions on the outerend of the telescoping member through which access may be had to thesecuring pin, that pin being rendered accessible only in a limited wayfor protection and to prevent damage or accidental dislodgment.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and such other objects asmay hereinafter appear the present invention relates to a strap endconstruction as defined in the appended claims and as described in thisspecification taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a watch with closely spaced lugs towhich the strap end of the present invention is secured;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of a Watch with widely spaced lugs to whichthe strap end of the present invention is secured;

Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the construction of Fig. 1,taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view on an enlarged scale of the strap endproper;

Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the strap end proper of Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of one of thetelescoping members;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but with the member rotated 90 aboutits axis; I

Fig. 9 is an end view of the telescoping mernber of Fig. '7;

Fig. 10 is an exploded view on an enlarged scale of the strap endproper, the telescoping members, and a portion of a conventional springsecuring pin adapted to be used therewith;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing another embodiment ofthe strap end;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of another embodiment ofthe telescoping member particularly adapted for use with the strap endof Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but with the member rotated 90about its axis;

Fig. 14 is an end View of the telescoping mem ber of Fig. 13; and

Figs. 15, 16 and 17 are bottom plan views of the assembled strap end ofFig. 11 and the telescoping member of Figs. 12-14, the member beingshown in positions projecting outwardly from the strap end toprogressively greater degrees.

Broadly considered, the strap end proper, generally designated A,includes a looped portion generally designated B, one or more members C,C being receivable inside the looped portion B, being rotatable therein,and being movable axially into and out of an end thereof. An operativeconnection D of the finger and slot type is provided for convertingrotative motion of the members 0, C with respect to the looped portion Binto relative axial telescoping motion, so that the width of the strapend as defined by the looped portion B and the part of the members Cwhich extend out from the ends of the portion B can be adjustably variedat Will through rotation of the members C, C, within the looped portionB.

Described more specifically, the strap end proper A is here disclosed inthe form of ametal sheet comprising a body 2 which forms a continuationof a strap 3 of any desired construction. As shown in the drawings thebody 2 is separate from the strap 4 and is secured thereto by acurled-over portion 6 which passes through an aperture 3 in the strap 6,but the body 2 could just as well be an integral extension of the strap4 or could be secured thereto in any other manner whatsover.

The free end of the body 2, that is to say, the end directed away fromthe strap 4, is curled over at It to define the looped portion B, theend edge l2 of the looped portion B being spaced from the body 2 so asto define a passage l4 therebetween (see Figs. 5 and 6). The width ofthe looped portion B is such that it will fit between closely spacedlugs it on a watch case is (see Fig. 1) and its internal diameter issuch that the telescoping members C, C can rotate therewithin and canmove axially with respect thereto.

A pair of slots 2!! are provided in the looped portion B, these slotshaving open ends at the end edge [2 and being angularly disposed withrespect to the ends 22 of the looped portion B, the slots 28 beingrelatively closely spaced at the end edge I2 of the looped portion A anddiverging from one another, preferably in a uniform manner, along thelooped portion B. The inner edges of the slots 28 are provided withrecesses 24, stepped along the inclination of the slots 26, theinnermost extent of each of the recesses 25 being spaced axially withrespect to the looped portion B by a small amount such as, in Figs.1-10, & of an inch. It will be noted that the recesses 2d are separatedby projections 25, the depth of the recesses 24 thus exceeding thepacing of the innermost portions thereof along the axis of the loopedportion ill.

The telescoping members C, C are here disclosed in the form or" metaltubes as which may conveniently be formed merely by rolling a metalsheet upon itself and cutting off the desired lengths. The members C, Care in the form of tubes so that a conventional spring securing pin canbe passed therethrough, and the outer dimension of the tube 28 is suchthat it can be received inside the looped portion B, preferably in arelatively snug manner, so as'to be rotatable and axially movabletherewithin. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-10 a single finger33 is provided on the tube 26, preferably by being struck up from one ofthe edges thereof, the finger 36 being of a size such that it can passthrough the passage 14 between the end edge 52 of the looped portion Band the body 2 of the strap end proper A, can then be moved into a slot2i via the open end thereof, and can be relatively snugly receivedwithin any one of the recesses 2 provided on the inner edge of the slot26. In that embodiment the width of the recesses 2 is closely the sameas the Width of the fingers 30.

The manner of use of this construction is as follows: If the Width ofthe looped portion B is such that it is snugly received between thewatch case lugs it the members C, C need not be used at all, theappropriate spring pin 28 being passed through the looped portion 13 tosecure the strap end to the watch in a conventional fashion. It Will benoted that, in order to permit access to the spring pin 28 in thatsituation and at the same time provide needed protection and hide thepin 23 from view when the strap is in place, the ends of the loopedportiom Bs are. provided with: cuteaway portions 32s of; limitedzlareaalNormally however; even; the-l cles'ely spaced; watchilug-ss vlzii.=wi1lbe; SOIIIGWhQIbLWidBIi' than the. looped portion B, as illustrated inFig. 1, ones/1cm considerably morei widelyx spaced: than: the: width Ofithe-2 loopedi portiom B, as illustrated: by the: watch: lugsa 1.6! on:the: watch; case. I88 of Fig: i In such a situationOHB'OIiIIIOIiGEOfithl; telescoping members C, must be employedpittheingpreferredithat both member-s and1 C5"be1em played: and: m 2.equiv-alentpositionsisou that the strap endilisg secured centrally: between thelugs: with? lfi: Thea tubes-18: arei'slidainto:the-looped; portionA.fromioppositeiendsithereofg thezendszofr the tubesiwhichi carry thefingers: 31b being ine wardlyi disposed and: the. fingers: 3i] slidingthrough. thespassage I41- until they; comeato; the openv end, of: the:appropriate slot: 20. ll-he: tubes:

ziiiiarer them rotated so that the fingerszimmovec 20.-

into theislotsezdiandialongi those slotsruntil v they; come oppositethe: recesses 24% correspondingii to,- the; degreeto: which". it; is;desired. that the tubes: 2fiipr'oject outwardlyz from; the looped?portion; 3;. Thus; if the :strap& is to; betfitted-"between: closelyspaced lugs: I 6: as. Fig. .2, the: fingers: willi be: movediinto: the.firsttnotciies; 245 that" is; to say, trim-notches which: are.-. mostinwardly disposed witlrrespecttto the endsiz 2 ofothe loop1ed portionB}-andiwhichpaaherezillustrated,larenearestithe; end. edge: If: the:strap: end to. be. fitted. between the: more; widely" spaced lugs 16,of: Fig. ll the tubes 26: are rotateda until. the. fingers. 3.8:comeropposite? the lastv recesses 2 4 .that is. to: say, the -ones inostoutwardly disposedswith respectv toi the ends 22: of: the loopediportion. 13;. on. as. here specifically illustrated the ones most; re.-=niote from :the: endedge: I221. Whenw the; tubes 2B:- are pushedinwardly s01 that their fingers 30* enter and fit snugly; within theappropriate. recesses 24;. thetubes- 26: cannotzbe further rotated; andconsequently'their: telescoping :positionszreliitive' tGfthe loopedportion: B: are fixed in one. direction. Where; as here 1 specificallydisclosed. the notches: 24 are pr'ovidedi on the inner; edges; of theslots 20? the telescoping: positions:- of the; members G and G" arethus'fixed-L inwardly ale though the members 0 and C can still heimovedsoutwardly so as' to di'sengage'thefingers 3181 from the-recesseszll andpermitrurtherradiustment.

Thesp'ring pin 2B is then passed through the? looped portion A and thetubular: members C .ahd C" ii: the same manner: as: a spring; pin

customarily employed to connect looped; braceletends between watch lugs,that is to: say; the 5511 spring pin: 2 8 is received" Within thelooped; pore tioirfi and=thetubular members c and C, its tipsarecontracted inwardly so: as to pass: between; the-watch'lugs i6; andiit'stips are then 'permittedi tospring" outwardly into the apertures; in.the: 601

watch lugs 16-; In order to provide. access to: the tips ofthe springpin 28' the: ends: of; the: tuhular'm'embers Candi C arezprovidedz withcut. away: portions. 33'; of limited area; v v whenithe adjusted strap:end is secured; snugly betweenzthezlugsflfi: 012116; there issoiittleclear-- ance between. the: outwardly projecting. ends. of the members fiand- G and the.-- inner. surfaces ohthe lugs; L6 or I16 thatthosemembersG. andl 01 cannot be? moved outwardly. from the mopedportion; B a sufficient, distance for the fingers) 3U tdnnove out oftherecesses 24 in which they have been. placed. This relationship isensured by, ifiakihgbthe depth of'th'e recesses? greater. than the axialspacing from one recessto an-' 6' other: Gonseiiucntlg; thewidthiofithe,is; positively 'fixeds for" so long: as thaw-strap? endi is;securedesnug'ly hetweem aegiveni set. OIL lugse I162 or [:61". Guess thespringipim 28s is disengaged n and the:strap;: en'dl removed: from.between; the:

lugs: 1:6 or. lfii'iomemberszCiandifs'lf may: then-hes readily: out soasLrtce disengage thewfingersi 31k from the: recesses; 24;. thus;permitting? reaaiyi readjustment: of the off the strap; without havingto: deform: oribe'nd: part; the struc'tunes 'Iihislastmointaismuite:significant;-,, since the: structure: invoivedzis? usually; relativelythiii and consequently bending: or? deformation: will imateriallyxredircelits;lite; ,7

It. is: preferred that. the slots 20 5 extends; ovrxthebottomofitheulooped: portiomBs so: that; the strap:- end scuredztorr a: watclh.the: slot and finger: operative; connection: is: obscured? from viewfrom! above; thus: retaining the den orative.appearancexofithezstiiapiend: andmasking; all fiincticnal appearancez IThe spacing: off recesses; 2'4 and: thevangularity; and: divergence :of'the-slots 22 may; "of: courseixhee varied within widewlimitsz It ispreferredithazie each i recess 24- differr'im axial: spacing from;those: adjacent: to: itby' 3 4 of an; inch,. thus providing;for'step-wi'se adjustment ofithe widthwofthesstrapi end A in st'eps of/5 of anzinch amdipermittingi center-ing of the strap end Aibetwenithelugsz'liiz in steps: of 5 a of" an inch; but' choicesofi space ingdepends: largely "uponi thepartieulap "applicastionto whichtheinventionis to'ibe-putla- In the-embodiment of? Figs:v ior'e'acliiad? justed position-of the telescopingimemher 0126'! there inust; be: acorresponding. recess. 24 The:

structure involved: is usually relatively? small}, much smallerthan hereshown in theidrawin'gsi; and themater-lab of" which: itfis; madeis'zcome parat'iv'ely fragile and subject bending, l an ticularly withrespect to' the flimsy'projectionsfl 5: When a large number of recesses;Hiand projecttions 25' must be produced azdifiicult'. manufac'rturingproblem is cften' presented;

In order toavoid?thisdifliculty: theiembodiment; of Figs. 11-47 hasbeendeviserhin whihhwmbotlia ment there are twice as: many steps; of.adjustmehr'as there are recesses, and there are only; hal'i asmanyflimsy projections wasain .theapre viously descrihed embodiment; Thestra-mend: A of Figs:1 1-1T'is similar-rto thaieofEigs2.1i-I0:execept'fonthe'fact thatthe recessesd llfon the-inner: edgeof the slots 2]) in theilo'oped portiomHare;

not-as-numerousasthe-recesses 2-4 'initheembodi I ment' of Figs. l-I'O;and the: axialispacing ot'each': recess 24 differs from thoseadjacentzto-itcbyp for example, 3% of an-inch rathenthan-by/ K of aninch as in the previously described? embodi ment. Itwill also he notedthat-themecessesizl are considerably wider than the recessesizl inithezpreviously described embodi'ment'gandi that there: are fewer projections25 Hen'ce th'e fabrication; of thestrapendiA- is materiallyfacilitatedz.

In order not to lose-any-'precision of adjuste ment, the telescopingmembers-Cand C prefer ably used with=-the=strap end ApfiEig-r 111' areas best-shown in Figs 1 2 143 providedrwithz offingers BW and 30' eachofthesefingersxbee conveniently-struck up from: am edge of: the: sheetmaterialof which the members. C 'and l" are made:- As can besebeseen'from'. Figs? L3: l l thetwo fingers- 3 0 and 3ll' aresepamtedirozmone another"laterally with respect to :the member: 0; and the fingers3'0' and 30""are1alsoLvariahlw spacedlongitudinally thereof the finger3.0" be 5 ing closer-t0 an end of the member C; thaw 'thei finger 30".The difference in longitudinal spacing between the fingers 30 and 30"is, by way of example, ,4 of an inch. The lateral separation of thefingers 3B and 30 is preferably slightly greater than the thickness ofone of the projections 25', so that said projection 25' can be snuglyreceived between them. The distance between the outer surfaces of thefingers 30 and 30" is preferably slightly less than the Width of therecesses 24, so that both fingers can be snugly received within the samerecess 24.

The manner of use of the above described structure in order to obtainprecise and fine degree of variation in adjustment may be seen from acomparison of Figs. 15, 16 and 17. In Fig. the members C and C are shownin fully telescoped position, both of the fingers 30 and 30" beingreceived within the first recess 24', the forward edge of the finger 30abutting against the innermost portion of the first recess 24. The nextadjustment step is illustrated in Fig. 16, in which the members C and Chave been rotated until the projection 25 between the first and secondrecesses 24' passes between the fingers and 30". In this position theforward edge of the finger 30 abuts against the innermost portion of thesecond recess 24, that edge being ad vanced 32 of an inch with respectto the comparable part of the first recess 24. However, because theforward edge of the finger 3B" is m of an inch behind the forward edgeof the finger St, the members C and C are only extended outwardly 4 ofan inch with respect to their positions as shown in Fig. 15. By the sametoken, the forward edge of thefinger 35' will be separated $4 of an inchfrom the innermost portion of the first recess 24. If the members C andC are then rotated to their position shown in Fig. 17, in which bothfingers 30 and 30 are received within the second recess 24, the forwardedge of the finger 30 will now abut the innermost portion of the secondrecess 24', and consequently the members 0 and C will extend outwardlyof an inch more than they do in Fig. 16 and of an inch more than they doin Fig. 15.

It will thus be apparent that, although the strap end A provides onlythree stepped recesses 24', each spaced different from the next axiallyof the strap end by & of an inch, the overall adjustability of the unitpermits six steps of adjustment, each differing from the other by of aninch. The structure of Figs. 11-17 therefore permits the sameflexibility of use as the structure of Figs. 1-10, but its structure issturdier and easier to fabricate.

Although the telescoping members 0 and C have been here disclosed in theform of tubes 26, it-is not necessary that they be tubular if the meansfor securing the strap end to the lugs IE or l6 be in some form whichneed not pass through the members C and C, as if, for example, the lugs16 were resilient or if the members C and C themselves contained aspring loaded device cooperable with the lugs E6 or It.

The structure of the present invention is simple and inexpensive and atthe same time provides for ready adjustability in a convenient andsimple manner which can be performed by any individual and not merelythose with particular skills or equipment. Thus the fitting of a watchband to a watch is an operation which can be performed either by thejeweler from whom the bracelet is bought with no loss of time and at noexpense to him, or by the-individual purchaser in his own home. ,7Moreover, if an individual purchaser wishes to transfer his braceletfrom one watch to another, the two watches having lugs spaced atdifferent distances from one another, he can readily accomplish thetransfer without expert assistance.

It will be apparent that many variations may be made in the specificstructure here disclosed without departing from the spirit of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A variable width strap end comprising a looped portion having a slotangularly disposed with respect to the ends of said looped portion, atubular member rotatable within said looped portion and movable axiallyinto and out of one end thereof, and a finger on said member receivablein said slot, rotation of said member within said looped portion causingsaid finger to move within said slot and the angularity of said slotcausing said member to telescope into and out of said looped portion asthe finger moves therewithin, thereby varying the width of said strapend, an edge of said slot being provided with a series of steps,. saidfinger cooperating with said steps so as to provide for stepwiseadjustment of the width of said strap end.

2. The variable width strap end of claim 1 in which the inner edge ofsaid slot is stepped.

3. A variable width strap end comprising a looped portion having a slotangularly disposed with respect to the ends of said looped portion, atubular member rotatable within said looped portion and movable axiallyinto and out of one end thereof, and a finger on said member receivablein said slot, rotation of said member within said looped portion causingsaid finger to move within said slot and the angularity of said slotcausing said member to telescope into and out of said looped portion asthe finger moves therewithin, thereby varying the width of said strapend, an edge of. said slot being provided with a series of steppedrecesses separated by projections, said finger being receivable in saidrecesses so as to fix the position of said member relative to saidlooped portion both telescopically in one direction and rotatably,thereby providing for stepwise adjustment of the width of said strapend.

4. The variable width strap end of claim 3, in which the inner edge ofsaid slot is provided with stepped recesses separated by projections.

5. The variable width strap end of claim 3, in which the width of saidrecesses is closely equal to the thickness of said finger.

6. A variable width strap end comprising a body forming a continuationof a strap, a looped portion on the free end of said body, the end edgeof said looped portion being spaced from said body so as to define apassage therebetween, said looped portion having a pair of ,angularlydisposed open-ended slots extending from the end edge of said loopedportion, a pair of members rotatable within said looped portion andmovable axially into and out of the ends thereof, and fingers on saidmembers passable through said passage and receivable in said slots,rotation of said members within said looped portion causing said fingersto move within said slots and the angularity of said slots causing saidmembers to telescope into and out of said looped portion, therebyvarying the width of said strap end.

'7. The variable width strap end of claim 6 in which said slots arerelatively close together 1&9 at zthe endedge ofsaid looped-portion,said slots diverging therefrom.

8..;?l3he variable width strap end of claim :6 in=.which-;an:edge.ofeach of-said slotsis provided with :a series :of steps said fingerscooperating with; said steps-so as 3110 provide for stepwise ,adjustmentof the width of said strap end.

.L9..The variable widthnstrapwend-;of claim ,;8':in which 11311911111181edges :of .said slots ;are',.=steppe d.

.10. .The :variable :width .strap I end of claim --6, inwvhich an edge:of each of said-slots is" provided with a series of stepped irecessesseparated .by projections; said fingers being receivable. in saidrecessesso .asito fixzthe position ,ofssaid members relative .to saidlooped :portion both .rotatably and telescopically in onedirection,:thereby :providing for stepwise adjustment pf the width :ofsaid strap .end.

11. The variable width strap end of claim 8, in which the inner edges ofsaid slots are-provided with stepped recesses.

12. .The variable width strap end of claim 10 in "which the width ofsaid recesses is closely equal ito the thickness of said finger.

r13. Avariable width strapend comprising a looped ;:portion having aslot angularly disposed with respect-to the ends of said looped portion,a member "rotatable within said loopedportion and movable axially intoand .out of one end thereof, an edgeof said slot being provided with aseries of steppedrecesses separated by projectio'ns and said memberibeing provided with a pairoffingersvariably spaced .from an end of saidmember longitudinally thereof and spaced from one another laterallythereof, rotation of said member within said looped portion causing saidfingers to move within said slot and the angularity of said slot causingsaid member to telescope into and out of said looped portion as saidfingers move therewithin, thereby varying the width of said strap end,the width of said recesses and said projections being so related to thethickness of and lateral spacing between said fingers that saidprojections fit snugly between said fingers and said pair of fingers fitsnugly within said recesses.

14. A variable width strap end comprising a looped portion having a slotangularly disposed with respect to the ends of said looped portion, amember rotatable within said looped portion and movable axially into andout of one end thereof, an edge of said slot being provided with aseries of stepped recesses separated by projections, and said memberbeing provided with a pair of fingers variably spaced from an end ofsaid member longitudinally thereof and spaced from one another laterallythereof, rotation of said member within said looped portion causing saidfingers to move within said slot and the angularity of said slot causingsaid member to telescope into and out of said looped portion as saidfingers move therewithin, thereby varying the width of said strap end,the width of said recesses and said projections being so related to thethickness of and lateral spacing between said fingers that saidprojections fit snugly between said fingers and said pair of fingers fitsnugly within said recesses, the space between the innermost portion ofsaid recesses along the axis of said looped portion being greater thanthe longitudinal spacing of said fingers along said member.

15. A variable width strap end comprising a looped portion having a slotangularly disposed with respect to the ends of said looped portion,

a member rotatable with-in said looped portion and movable axially intoand out of one end thereof, an edge of S,aid.-slot being provided with aseries of stepped recesses separated by projections, and said memberbeing provided with a pair of fingers variably spaced froma-n {end ofsaid member longitudinally thereof and spaced from .;one :anotherlaterally thereof, rotation of said: member :withinisaid looped portioncausing said fingers --to move within :said slot and the angularity ofsaid slot causing said member to telescopeinto and :out pfrsaidlooped'portionas said :fingers move therewithin, :thereby varying thewidth :ofsaid strap end, the width of said recesses and said projectionsbeing so related .to the "thicknessof andtla'teral spacing between saidfingers rthatcsaid projections fit snugly between said fingers'. andsaid pair of fingers fitsnugly within .:said recesses, the spacingbetween :the innermost-portion-of said recesses along the axis of saidlooped portion being twice the longitudinal spacing of said fingersalong said member.

16. A variable width strap end comprising a,

looped portion having a pair of .divergent'slots angularly disposedwit'h respect .to the ends of said looped portion, a pair of tubularmembers rotatable within said-looped portion and movable axiallyzin'toand-out of opposite ends meanness a finger on each of said tubularmembers receivable within the corresponding slot, rotation of either ofsaid members within said looped portion causing said finger :to =movewithin said slot and the angularity of said slot causing said member totelescope into and out of said looped portion as said finger movestherewithin, thereby varying the width of said strap end.

17. The variable width strap end of claim 16, in which each of saidslots makes an equal angle with the side edges of said looped portion.

18. The variable width strap end of claim 16, in which the outwardlyprojecting ends of said tubular members are provided with a cut-awayportion, said tubular members being adapted to receive a securing pintherethrough and the cutaway end portions thereof rendering saidsecuring pin accessible and thereby facilitating removal of said strapend from between a pair of lugs.

19. A variable width strap end comprising a looped portion having a slotangularly disposed with respect to the ends of said looped portion, anedge of said slot being provided with a series of stepped recessesseparated by projections, a tubular member rotatable within said loopedportion and movable axially into and out of one end thereof, and a pairof fingers on said tubular member and receivable in said slot, saidfingers being variably spaced from an end of said member longitudinallythereof and spaced from one another laterally thereof, the width of saidrecesses and projections being so related to the thickness of andlateral spacing between said fingers that said projections fit snuglybetween said fingers and said pair of fingers fit snugly within saidrecesses, rotation of said member within said looped portion causingsaid fingers to move within said slot and the angularity of said slotcausing said member to telescope into and out of said looped portion asthe fingers move therewithin, the cooperation of said fingers with saidprojections and recesses providing for stepwise adjustment of the widthof said strap end.

20. The variable width strap end of claim 19, in which the spacingbetween the innermost portion of said recesses along the axis of saidlooped portion is greater than the longitudinal spacing of said fingersalong said member.

21. The variable width strap end of claim 19, in which the spacingbetween the innermost portion of said recesses along the axis of saidlooped portion is twice the longitudinal spacing of said fingers alongsaid member.

22. A variable width strap end comprising a body forming a continuationof a strap, a looped portion on the free end of said body, the end edgeof said looped portion being spaced from said body so as to define apassage therebetween, said looped portion having a pair of angularlydisposed open-ended slots extending from the end edge of said loopedportion, an edge of each of said slots being provided with a series ofstepped recesses separated by projections, a pair of members rotatablewithin said looped portion and movable axially into and out of the endsthereof, and a pair of fingers on each of said members passable throughsaid passage and receivable in said slots, said fingers being variablyspaced from an end of said member longitudinally thereof and spaced fromone another laterally thereof, the width of said recesses and saidprojections being so related to the thickness of and lateral spacingbetween said fingers that said projections fit snugly between saidfingers and said pair of fingers fit snugly between said recesses,rotation of said members within said looped portion causing said fingersto move within said slots and the angularity of said slots causing saidmembers to telescope into and out of said looped portion, thecooperation between said fingers and said projections and recessesfixing the position of said members relative to said looped portion bothrotatably and telescopically in one direction, thereby providing forstepwise adjustment of the width of said strap end.

23. The variable width strap end of claim 22, in which the spacingbetween the innermost portion of said recesses along the axis of saidlooped portion is greater than the longitudinal spacing of said fingersalong said member.

24. The variable width strap end of claim 22, in which the spacingbetween the innermost portion of said recesses along the axis of saidlooped portion is twice the longitudinal spacing of said fingers alongsaid member.

EMIL RODRIGUEZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber

